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If you've got somebody on the ground painting the target with a laser, then there are various bombs, missiles and even artillery rounds that can be used. But otherwise, not really.
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We are discussing close quarters combat, arnt we? If so, that would mean we already have troops on the ground (Infantry, tanks, or both) that can paint a target in the way you describe. Why cant they do that?
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If the forces are closely engaged, it's very difficult for a missile to tell friend from foe at supersonic speeds.
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If the target is painted, it does not need to. Whoever is doing the painting determines that. The missile simply goes wherever it is pointed. It's speed is irrelevant at that point. Precision bombs dropped from F117's during the gulf war were probably travelling pretty fast.
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That's why the video images you see come from missile strikes against fixed installations or enemy units moving in the open behind the lines.
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I know for sure that missiles have been used to destroy tanks. That seems pretty precise to me.
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An A-10 flies low enough and slow enough that it can use the ground as cover and discriminate targets very well. *Very* useful in a close-quarters fight.
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I imagine that would make it vulnerable even to shoulder mounted heat-seeking weapons. Which are cheap and wide spread.
By contrast, an F-22 or JSF is far out of their range, and resistant to heat-tracking weapons in any event.
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Yes and no. It's a very tough aircraft. And it can loiter out of sight until it makes a gun run.
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Not out of BVR range. It has no defense against enemy BVR weapons.
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Its design reduces its vulnerability to heat-seaking missiles,
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In what way?
Stealth aircraft have adaptations that reduce their IR signature. I have not seen any obvious adaptations on the A10. What am I missing?
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Not if the forces are closely engaged. The problem at that point isn't so much accuracy as target discrimination.
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Ground forces that are on the scene can paint the target, removing that variable.